181 - ‘Abdullāh narrated to us, saying: My father narrated to me: Yahyā ibn Zakariyyā ibn Abī Zā’idah narrated to us, saying: ‘Abd al-Jabbār ibn Ward narrated to me, from Ibn Abī Mulaykah, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, entered a pool of water with his Companions. He divided them into two groups, then said:

“Let each of you swim to his partner.”

Each man swam to his partner until only the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and Abū Bakr remained. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, swam to him and embraced him, then said:

“If I were to take an intimate friend from this community, I would take Abū Bakr. But he is my companion, as Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, has said.”